If you’ve ever found yourself checking your watch five times before boarding, groaning at the gate delay, or pacing during the taxi ride to the airport, welcome — you’re officially an impatient traveller. But, you’re not alone.
Some of us love the destination so much that the journey feels like an unnecessary obstacle. But the good news is – impatience doesn’t have to ruin the experience.
Here’s how to cope, stay calm, and even enjoy the travel process.
1. Recognise your triggers
Impatience often stems from anxiety or feeling out of control. Ask yourself: “What part of the travel experience gets under your skin the most?”
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Is it the waiting?
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The crowds?
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The unpredictability of flights?
Once you understand your trigger, you can manage it better.
2. Turn waiting into “me time”
Airports, train stations, border queues — they’re all prime real estate for small joys:
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Download your favourite podcast or audiobook.
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Create a “travel only” playlist you only listen to when in transit.
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Use this time to journal, read, or plan your trip itinerary.
When you associate waiting with personal rituals, it becomes less about wasting time and more about investing in yourself.
3. Breathe (Seriously, just breathe)
This sounds obvious, but it works. Impatience often causes shallow breathing, which heightens anxiety. Practice the 4-7-8 technique:
Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 then exhale for 8.
Do this 3–5 times. It calms the nervous system and grounds you in the moment.
4. Pack distraction essentials
Keep your carry-on stocked with tools to distract your busy mind: a novel you’ve been meaning to read, a travel-sized puzzle or colouring book and snacks (because nobody’s patient when they’re hangry), snacks is very important!
This isn’t just busy work — it’s a buffer against frustration.
5. Reframe the timeline
Try seeing travel delays or long drives not as lost time, but as part of the experience. The journey is the beginning of the adventure, not a chore. The moment you step out of your house, you’ve already started travelling.
Instead of saying, “Ugh, I’m not there yet,” try, “I’m already on the way. I’m in motion.”
6. Let go of control (Easier said than done)
You can’t control the weather, or the gate changes, or the screaming child in row 12. But you can control your reaction. Impatience often comes from trying to force things to move faster. Practice surrender — not everything needs to be optimized or fixed.
Let travel unfold. There’s peace in letting go.
7. Move your body
Impatience is energy with nowhere to go. Walk the airport. Stretch. Even if you’re stuck in a seat, move your ankles, rotate your shoulders, or do a few discreet isometric exercises. Movement reduces restlessness and improves your mood.
8. Remember why you’re travelling
Whether it’s a holiday, work trip, or family visit — tap into the why. Visualise your destination. Think about the ocean air, the city lights, the people you’re going to see, or the food you’re going to eat. Let that anticipation become joyful rather than agitated.
Some people do love the process of travel — the airport buzz, the seat-back entertainment, the window seat daydreaming. But if that’s not you, it’s okay. You don’t need to force yourself to enjoy every moment. What matters is finding ways to cope with impatience so it doesn’t rob you of the excitement, the joy, and the magic that comes after you arrive.
Next time you feel the itch to fast-forward time, pause, breathe, and remind yourself, the world is waiting — and it’s okay to take the long way there.
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How to maintain your sleep schedule when travelling: simple ways to rest well on the go
Feature Image: Dupe Photos
